- Paladin: Major, let me set the record straight. I did not come here for old school gossip, to sing class songs, or to discuss personal affairs, past or present. If you have a problem, please detail it, and I'll name a price.
- Paladin: I'm telling you to act like a cavalry officer.
- Lt. Harvey: You from the Inspector General?
- Paladin: Lieutenant, unless the Army as changed considerably, War Department Order 7 dash one zero four is still on the books. And I asked to see your Commanding Officer.
- Lt. Harvey: I usually take care of his business for him, Mister.
- Paladin: Well, Lieutenant, you just met the exception.
- Chief Gerada: Do meat hunters kill Maricopas? Do they load gold in leather sacks and marked trails? Is this the way soldiers hunt meat?
- Chief Gerada: Before, you led your men here yourself. There was no trouble then. But now the Little Chief leads them here with his eyes looking to other things.
- Major J. Wilson: Gold, Paladin. Isn't that word enough for you?
- Paladin: If the Maricopas find us, I hope they believe us that it was your idea to kill those guides.
- Major J. Wilson: But the sight of it, just lying there, a year's salary in one handful, Paladin- You can't afford to kill me, I know the location of the treasure.
- Paladin: You're right in the Maricopas' backyard, Wilson. They're probably watching us right now.
- Major J. Wilson: Look, Paladin...
- Paladin: WHAT GOOD IS GOLD TO A DEAD MAN?
- Paladin: I'll tell you this, Major, if your reciprocate, you'll provoke open warfare.
- Major J. Wilson: And if I don't, they'll think I'm weak. Either way it'll involve innocent settlers, women and children.
- Paladin: There's a third way. You could parley with Gerada, the Chief, and find out what's troubling him.
- Major J. Wilson: Yes, but I can't go in there with troops. Now from what I understand, you could take me in there, just the two of us.
- Paladin: Major, have you ever heard of the Maricopa treasure, the tribal goldmine?
- Major J. Wilson: This country's thick with stories like that.
- Paladin: There is a huge vein of white quartz, so heavily loaded with free gold you can dig it out with a knife.
- Major J. Wilson: Well, I happen to be interested in other things. Human lives.
- Chief Gerada: The others with me fear that gold will split even the tongue of the man called Paladin.
- Paladin: I have spoken true.